This document provides an introduction to email and discusses various email basics. It explains what email is, the different parts of an email address, and popular email providers like Yahoo and Gmail. The document also compares standard email software to web-based email, discussing differences in how email is handled and stored. Finally, it provides some tips for using email safely, such as not giving out your password, being cautious of attachments and links, and logging off when finished.

1. INTRODUCTION TO EMAIL
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
@
The Warren Township
Library
By
Catherine DeBerry

2. INTRODUCTION TO EMAIL
• What you will learn
today….
• Some email basics
• How to select an email
provider
• Why you should have
multiple email
addresses
• How to open a Yahoo
email account
• How to send & receive
email using your Yahoo
email
• How to add an email
attachment

3. WHAT IS EMAIL?
• EMAIL STANDS FOR ELECTRONIC
MAIL
• THINK OF IT AS AN ELECTRONIC
LETTER
• YOU DO NOT PRINT IT OUT &
MAIL IT
• INSTEAD IT IS SENT
ELECTRONICALLY OVER THE
INTERNET

4. The parts of the email address
• All email addresses follow the • tdeberry4@comcast.net
same format and are
comprised of three parts • actuarone@aol.com
• The user name • cdeberry@sclsnj.org
• The domain name • debert@blair.edu
• The top level name

5. PART OF THE EMAIL
ADDRESS
• The domain name
identifies the computer
• The username is the part where the email
of the address to the left of messages are sent &
the @ symbol stored.
• It identifies the sender or • For example…when
recipient of the message someone sends a
• When you set up an email message to
account, you are given the tdeberry4@comcast.net,
opportunity to choose a the message goes to
username for yourself
the computer on the
• Sometimes the username Internet, the web
includes a first & last name server that has been
separated by a period
given the name
“comcast”

6. PART OF THE EMAIL
ADDRESS
• Some examples of popular top • The last part of the
level domains & what they
signify email address, the top
• .aero air transport industry level domain (net, org,
• .asia Asia- Pacific region com etc) identifies
• .com commercial either a country or
• .edu educational address type.
• .gov governmental
• You can tell a little
• .museum museums
• .net networks something about a
person by studying the
• Popular Top Level Domains top level domain in his
email address

7. WHICH EMAIL TYPE TO
CHOOSE
• There are 2 types of email software.
• STANDARD EMAIL SOFTWARE WHICH
COMES AS PART OF THE SOFTWARE
PACKAGE INSTALLED ON YOUR PC.
• EXAMPLES INCLUDE OUTLOOK EXPRESS &
MICROSOFT OUTLOOK
• The other type of email is Web based email
• DO NOT NEED EMAIL SOFTWARE BECAUSE IT IS ON THE
INTERNET
• USUALLY FREE
• EXAMPLES INCLUDE MICROSOFT’S HOTMAIL OR GOOGLE’S
GMAIL
• INTERNET PROVIDERS OFTEN GIVE FREE EMAIL (EXAMPLES
ARE COMCAST & VERIZON)

8. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EMAIL
TYPES
• HOW EMAIL IS
HANDLED & STORED
• EMAIL SOFTWARE-ALL
MESSAGES KEPT ON
YOUR COMPUTER
• WEB BASED EMAIL-
ALL MESSAGES KEPT
ON COMPUTER ON
INTERNET

9. Which email type to choose
Web based email
(yahoo, gmail, hotmail)
Access email Get Access
Completely
from any to other
free
computer websites

10. Which email type to choose
Standard
Email
(comes installed on your pc)
May Can
Can’t access
Have it Be
old mail
already Cut off

11. E-MAIL SAFETY BASICS
• Never give anyone your password.
• Keep your password hidden in a safe place and change it
frequently.
• DO NOT open an email unless you know who it’s from because
it could be spyware or a virus. DELETE THIS EMAIL
IMMEDIATELY
• DO NOT open any attachments from anyone even if you know
them unless the attachment is run through an anti-virus
program first.
• Use common sense-keep personal information personal. Never
give it out to anyone on the internet.
• DO NOT be caught by the spammer’s favorite trick “Remember
me” in the subject heading
• Log off when done
• http://www.wiredsafety.org/safety/email_safety/index.html